(Reuters) – Berlin finances Ukraine’s access to an Internet network by satellite operated by Eutelsat, while Europe explores other connectivity options to set up an alternative to Elon Musk Starlink.

Eutelsat’s general manager Eva Berneke told Reuters that the company provided its Internet service by high -speed satellite in Ukraine for about a year, via a German distributor.

She indicated that there were less than a thousand terminals connecting Ukrainian users to the Eutelsat network, which represents a small fraction of some 50,000 Starlink terminals of which Ukraine says it has. However, she added that this figure would increase.

“We are trying to install between 5,000 and 10,000 terminals there relatively quickly,” she said, adding that this could be done “in the coming weeks”.

Asked about the funding of this additional provision by Germany, Eutelsat spokesperson Joanna Darlington said the question was being discussed.

“We do not yet know how the EU, collectively or country by country, will finance efforts in the future,” said Joanna Darlington.

The German foreign ministry has not responded to requests for comments.

The dependence on Starlink worries Europe

The cooling of American-Ukranian relations since the arrival of Donald Trump in the White House has aroused concerns in Europe concerning the dependence on Starlink. This service, belonging to Elon Musk SpaceX, provides essential connectivity to Ukraine in its war against Russia.

However, due to Musk’s relationship with Trump, some fear that Ukraine cannot count on long -term Starlink.

Eutelsat, via its Oneweb division, offers an alternative with satellites in low orbit (LEO), which transmit data effectively and provide high speed internet to distant communities and armies.

Eva Berneke said that discussions are underway with the European Union to provide additional access via projects like Iris², a long -term program supported by the EU.

Eutelsat also offers a network of geostationary satellites, slower but less expensive, suitable for domestic use or as a rescue solution.

Eva Berneke said that “as long as Starlink works in Ukraine, it is not logical to choose not to use it”, but she highlighted the need to have a plan B.

Poland has provided approximately half of the 50,000 Starlink Terminals in Ukraine, spending $ 84 million (75.83 million euros) since 2022. The US government and SpaceX have also contributed to this effort.

The European Commission recently indicated that the EU is expected to finance Ukraine access to European space services.

The European Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius having added that Europe had to “develop its capacities quickly and urgently” via initiatives like Govsatcom and Iris².

(Written by Gianluca Lo Nostro and Cassell Bryan-Low, with Riham Alkousaa in Berlin; Noémie Naudin, edited by Augustin Turpin)

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